Poulter, Colsaerts get wildcard picks

Golf / 27 August 2012, 1:34pm

Reuters

CASARES, SPAIN - MAY 17: Ian Poulter of England during in action on day one of the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin Golf Club on May 17, 2012 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

London – England's Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium are Europe's two wildcard picks for next month's Ryder Cup, captain Jose Maria Olazabal said on Monday.

Poulter and Colsaerts join 10 automatic selections in the 12-man team for holders Europe at the Sept. 28-30 match against the United States at the Medinah Country Club in Illinois.

“Everyone of you guessed Ian was going to be there. He has a great Ryder Cup record and he's playing well,” Olazabal told a news conference at Gleneagles, Scotland.

“Nicolas is going to be the only rookie in the team but his match play record is very good – he won the World Match Play Championship in Spain this year.”

There was no place for triple major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland, who failed to qualify for this year's World Golf Championship tournaments, the events that are one rung down from the four majors.

Europe beat the U.S. 14 1/2-13 1/2 in the previous edition of the biennial team event at Celtic Manor, Wales in 2010.